USA nursing school curriculum - Research Paper Example

? Nursing Curriculum Introduction: Nursing education and hence the curriculum of s providing the s on nursing have been found to have modified to great extents over the years. In the present times, the courses for nursing education include advanced techniques and measures with purposes of better preparation. Nurses in collaboration with other health officials are now found taking part in this mission. The curriculum included for the nursing courses in the current times are more ingenious involving increased interactions unlike the earlier times, where the processes used to be highly strict. The focus now is more towards how the learners take up the lessons and not how teachers prepare their teachings. Also, distance learning programs in association with advanced technology are also part of the nursing education in the recent times (Nursing Education in the United States, 2003). In the United States, the nursing education in different institutions, colleges or universities are accompanied through several opportunities related to the nursing profession. For example, special lectures arranged by leaders in the field of nursing are provided for the nursing students. Also, different associations related to the nursing and health care take part in the educational programs thus enhancing the effects of the courses. US present a picture of advancement and development in the field of nursing education and provide the international students with indefinite opportunities and facilities. While students from the home country as well as from abroad come together in the learning process, there is always a mutual learning that occurs between the students (Nursing Education in the United States, 2003). The present study focuses on a particular USA nursing school curriculum, its courses and programs, the processes and the effectiveness of the entire education provided by the curriculum. USA Nursing School Curriculum: For the particular study, the nursing curriculum of the University of South Carolina has been considered. The College of Nursing in South Carolina under the University of South Carolina follows a nursing curriculum that provides interested candidates with several courses including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN Program Information, n.d.), the Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and the Master of Science in Nursing degrees (Graduate Program Information, n.d.). The BSN program as provided by the university is a four-year undergraduate program that combines the studies of the professional course and the knowledge of liberal arts. In it the general knowledge associated with english, chemistry, statistics, biology, psychology, sociology and other elective papers are included. Students completing the undergraduate program are eligible to take the licensure examination that is National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). On clearing this examination, the nursing candidate can initiate her career in the profession of nursing (BSN Program Information, n.d.). Masters and Dual Masters courses are also offered under the nursing curriculum in the South Carolina College of Nursing. The Doctorate course combines nine courses related to the development of nursing theory, research and statistics (Graduate Program Information, n.d.). The Nursing Curriculum in USC and Its Success: Assessment and Analysis: Considering the needs and demands of the nursing candidates, and their growing interests in the field, it can be realized that the Bachelor of Science in Nursing proves to be an efficient course successfully preparing students to be able to perform in health organizations. In general the BSN program takes around four years to complete (Nursing, 2012). The college of Nursing under the South Carolina University was incepted in the year 1940 and accredited in 1957. Studies reveal that since then more than 6000 nursing students have completed their nursing courses from the university and started their career in the nursing profession. The success of the nursing curriculum has been reflected in the manner in which the nurses have proved to be successful in delivering the state and the nation as a whole through their performances. Moreover, the curriculum being successful, the college has also been able to provide a model on leadership that is not comparable to other colleges of nursing in the region (Every Nurse a Leader, n.d.). The university provides an appropriate environment for the students in completion of their courses. This includes the efficient library facilities, instructional services, advanced technology, suitable and high class faculty as well as clinical resources. The libraries in the university provide the students with all the necessary information and study materials including rare books and manuscripts. International study sources are also made available to them. The communications media used in the university that include effective computer networks provide the students with immense opportunities of learning. The university is not only focused on the national students but international students are also equally welcome and treated. Students are allowed to converse with their professors in case of any doubts that they might have regarding the course. Students are also provided with their own accounts on electronic mails in order to have ease in connecting other students or professors. Clinical resources including health centers and nursing homes are also available where students can apply their knowledge of study (Environment and Resources, n.d.). For the purpose of enhanced learning a major area of the first floor of the nursing college of South Carolina University is used by Clinical Simulation Lab that helps in the simulation based learning of the students thus giving a practical experience of the nursing treatments that they require to learn (Clinical Simulation Lab, n.d.). As far as the course curriculum is considered, it can be said that the university has included all the necessary subjects such that the students can be well prepared for the nursing profession that they would enter into after the completion of the course. The standards of the courses have also been significantly maintained as per the levels required for efficiently preparing the students and accordingly accredited as mentioned in the other sections of the report. Moreover, over the years the university has been maintaining its policies and standards of courses that can be reflected from the large number of nursing students been successfully completing the course under the curriculum offered by the University of South Carolina and performing in the industry. This has been possible only with an effective coordination as well as understanding of the students and professors and the relationships that they maintained. The mission of the nursing college of the University of South Carolina is to “- Develop competent, caring nurse leaders to advance the profession of nursing through the integration of teaching, research, and service to improve client health and well-being outcomes” and the vision is to “achieve prominence as a national leader in the collaborative use of revolutionary and innovative professional nursing practices” (Hewlett, 2009, p.3). The University can be said to have sustained its activities based on its vision and mission since it has incorporated strategic planning involving the teams of faculty, staff as well as students for the betterment of the college and the nursing program (Hewlett, 2009, p.3). Not only the nursing curriculum is approved and accredited, but also the professional standards are maintained in the University of South Carolina. The nursing curriculum follows the ANA and AWHONN standards as guidelines that prepare the students well for child bearing and nursing professional duties (University of South Carolina College of Nursing, 2009, p.2). The University also reflects on interests in different communities that include immigrant health, issues related to accessing languages, women’s health, and community based research (Faculty Information, n.d.). All these features reflect on the effort that the University has been concerned with providing the nursing students with an efficient nursing program. It can be stated at this point that the university has been able to understand the needs of the nursing candidates and accordingly set their courses that would enable the students to prepare themselves suitably to the needs of the profession and the industry. In the further sections of the study, a study and analysis would be conducted to reflect on the needful courses and subjects that the university has involved in their nursing curriculum. This in other words focuses on the level of success and the causes behind the achievement of the success of the curriculum among the students. Outcomes and Expectations: From the study conducted on USC, it can be learnt that for a nursing curriculum to be successful, focus needs to be kept on the courses that are included such that they incorporate all the necessary study materials that would be required in the nursing profession. Teaching thus needs to be interactive in its way such that students might be able to associate effectively with the nursing career that they get involved once they complete the course. Thus, if a teaching-learning experience needs to be developed, these factors would be required to be kept in focus. Workshops involving direct interactions of nursing students with professors might prove to be an effective measure of teaching-learning development. Moreover, such workshops could include eminent personalities associated with the nursing profession who might share their experiences and knowledge with the students. A workshop might be organized involving practices based on the theories being taught through curriculums as well as lectures from eminent people. This would add to the knowledge of the students thus making the development of teaching-learning experiences effective. Such workshops can be organized on occasional basis to further support the nature of the study. In order to assess such measures of teaching and learning development, a monitoring and evaluation process would also prove to be highly significant. For this purpose, an ongoing survey on a regular or weekly basis could be performed. This might include directly asking for feedback on the organized workshops or developed programs from the students. Small surveys using questionnaires might work well for such feedback programs. Also, parents of the students could be involved in discussion to determine the improvements in the students. A regular monitoring or assessment process would enable to understand the status of the curriculum in terms of its effectiveness and in case of any feature lacking; necessary measures might be incorporated accordingly. Need for Certain Courses in the Nursing Curriculum: This section would focus on the courses necessary for the nursing education to be complete and effective such that the passed out candidates can deliver efficiently in their professional roles in different health organizations. This would thus require all the basic knowledge required for the purpose of nursing. While analyzing the University of South Carolina, the focus would thus be on whether the curriculum has been able to incur all the necessary courses in its nursing programs. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in the University of South Carolina has the following courses under its curriculum. These are divided into lower and upper divisions of the study. The lower division courses include Critical Reading and Composition, Rhetoric and Composition, Introduction to Statistical Reasoning, Elementary Statistics or Calculus for Business Administration and Social Sciences, Introduction to Psychology or Introduction to Sociology, Survey of Developmental Psychology or Sociology of the Family, Fundamental Chemistry II (with lab) – an introduction to organic and biochemistry, Human Anatomy and Physiology I (with lab), Human Anatomy and Physiology II (with lab), Microbiology (with lab), any History course, Introduction to Human Genetics for Health Care Professionals, Facilitative Communication, Evolution of Nursing Science, Clinical Nutrition, Socio-Cultural Variations in Health and Illness, and Biophysical Pathology (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, n.d.). The subjects in the upper divisions’ study of the program include Introduction to Health Assessment, Foundations of Nursing Practice, Nursing Care of the Older Adult, Clinical Reasoning, Chemical Therapeutics, Evidence-based Nursing Practice, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, Acute Care Nursing of Adults I, Acute Care Nursing of Adults II, Maternal/Newborn Nursing, Nursing of Children and Families, Nursing Leadership and Management, Family and Community Health Nursing, and Senior Nursing Capstone Practicum (Bachelor of Science in Nursing, n.d.). The nursing curriculum in the University of South Carolina also provides with the Masters Degree program and the Doctorate in nursing program. The curriculum of these courses includes the advance study materials based on research, statistics and development in the field of nursing. These courses prepare the students to perform at the advance level in the health organizations. The curriculum combines the traditional courses with the modern technologies thus reflecting on the advancement of the program (Graduate Program Information, n.d.). Having an overview on the courses incorporated as part of the nursing curriculum in the University of South Carolina, it can be analyzed that the university has been able to focus on the major subjects necessary for learning in order to become an efficient nurse performing in health organizations. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing has considered all the basic knowledge apart from the direct courses of nursing, and gradually taken concern on the nursing papers. This reflects on the university’s understanding of preparing the students in a complete manner to be capable of handing the complex nature of the health organizations in the present times. The Masters courses have been equally focused and effectively designed under the nursing curriculum. The effectiveness of the nursing curriculum followed in the University of South Carolina could be realized from the large number of nursing students being successfully completing the course and performing their roles in different health organizations. The record of around 6000 students completing the BSN program till date proves that the program has been on high demand and successful as well. Moreover, with the inception of the curriculum in 1940s, and gradually being able to develop and enhance the level of programs and courses, it can be stated that the nursing curriculum followed in the USC is better than many other nursing colleges of the time. Engagement of the Students: Another significant positive attribute of the Nursing College of South Carolina has been visible through the engagement of the nursing students in the tutorial programs. Such tutorial programs have been found to be initiated at the Eddie B. Lloyd Jr. Community Center that is focused on services to the community. The nursing students making out time post their courses timings take part in such tutorial activities (Chandler, n.d.). However this does not talk much about the educator role of the students. Even though the students might be involved in community services, their roles as educator and thus educating their partners and juniors through different lessons of nursing has not been visible to any great extent. This might also prove to be an opportunity for the college to incorporate in the nursing curriculum such that the leadership qualities can be more enhanced through their practice while they are still undergoing through the courses. Accreditation of the Courses: The credential or approval of the graduate programs is essential in order to allow the nursing student to give the licensure examination and get registered. Thus the credential for the nursing curriculum and the courses is also an essential part of the nursing education. An agency of the state generally handles these issues. Accreditations for the academic courses are provided by the NLN or National League for Nursing. NLN provides with the accreditation once the state approval occurs over the course and the curriculum. The accreditation not only allows the nursing student to give the examination, but such students become capable of getting their registrations in other states as well (Raffel & Barsukiewicz, 2002, pp.85-86). The nursing curriculum in the University of South Carolina involving the different nursing education programs are all accredited. The BSN program has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education as well as approved by the State Board of Nursing for South Carolina (BSN Program Information, n.d.). The Doctorate and Masters Degree courses are awarded through the Graduate School of the University and the courses and the curriculum of the programs are accordingly designed (Graduate Program Information, n.d.). Thus from the accreditation as available for the nursing curriculum in the University of South Carolina, it can be realized that the nursing students completing their courses from this college would be capable of giving and clearing the licensure examination. The accreditation of the programs in the college also ensures that the course is suitable and effective for the nursing profession where the curriculum has been found to incur the required courses in the degree program. A Critical Analysis and Recommendations: Having an overview on the curriculum prevalent in the nursing education being provided in the University of South Carolina, it can be realized that the programs have been following a curriculum that includes all the necessary courses for the nursing education or the preliminary nursing duties. From the above study it can be critically analyzed that the university has primarily considered its focus on the primary needs and demands of the interested nursing candidates and thus designed its curriculum fulfilling those needs. Considering the intentions and purposes as well as the performances of the university relating its nursing curriculum, it can be stated to be better than many other nursing colleges, reflected through the large number of students completing their courses from the university. Thus, for the University of South Carolina, the recommendation would be keep up with its standards such that greater number of successful candidates might be able to come out of the institute and start their profession. Another recommendation that would find itself suitable for the college and the concerned course is the involvement of the students in the educator role which also proves to be highly essential and significant in the nursing profession. If students participate in such activities while they are going through their academic courses and training, it would make them more able and confident to perform their roles as well as guide other nurses and patients in regard to the rules and guidelines of efficient nursing. Considering the entire courses, programs and the curriculum of the nursing education provided at the College of Nursing under the University of South Carolina, it can be said that the university has proved to be highly effective and efficient in its role. Thus, keeping up with its motives and incorporating further advancements can be expected to further improve the status of the nursing curriculum of the university. Conclusion: For this particular study, the nursing curriculum of the University of South Carolina has been considered that is highly popular among the nursing students now. The curriculum provides with the basic knowledge and training that nurses require while starting their profession in health organizations. The curriculum has incorporated all the necessary courses that include the undergraduate as well as graduate programs as necessary for the advanced level performances in the industry. The BSN course being a highly popular course for the nursing students has been significantly considered by the university. All the needful courses are included and the programs have proved to be highly effective and successful. Through the nursing curriculum from this university greater number of nurses has been found to be capable of clearing the licensure examination and thus achieve their registrations. Thus to conclude, it can be said that the nursing curriculum of the University of South Carolina can be considered to be a successful and efficient program to provide the interested nursing students with the basic skills for starting their career. The curriculum has been successfully implemented accompanied with the necessary standards and accreditation policies. This would effectively reduce the shortages in the nursing staff in different health organizations. The importance of the accreditation being understood, the courses have also undertaken the credential thus increasing the value of the courses and increasing its benefits on the nursing students. In an overview, the curriculum proves to be of huge benefits and success and thus needs to be effectively utilized by the nursing students in the nation. References 1) “Bachelor of Science in Nursing” (n.d.), Retrieved on February 26, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/nursing/Brochures/BSNBrochureJan2011.pdf 2) “BSN Program Information” (n.d.), sc, Retrieved on February 26, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/nursing/student/ugradprograminfo.html 3) Chandler, T. (n.d.). Students help with tutorial program, sc, Retrieved on February 26, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/outreach/item.php?oid=6 4) “Clinical Simulation Lab” (n.d.), sc, Retrieved on March 6, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/nursing/csl/csl.html 5) “Environment and Resources” (n.d.), sc, Retrieved on March 6, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/rref/docs/NursingResources.pdf 6) “Every Nurse A Leader” (n.d.), sc, Retrieved on February 26, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/nursing/ 7) “Faculty Information” (n.d.). sc, Retrieved on March 11, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/nursing/personnel/vitae/messiasd.html 8) “Faculty Practice” (n.d.), sc, Retrieved on March 11, 2012 from: http://sc.edu/nursing/practice/np_preceptorship.html 9) “Graduate Program Information” (n.d.), sc, Retrieved on February 26, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/nursing/student/gradprograminfo.html 10) Hewlett, P.O. (2009). Blueprint for Academic Excellence 2009-2010, Retrieved on March 11, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/provost/blueprints/Nursing_Blueprint09.pdf 11) “Nursing” (2012), nursingschools, Retrieved on February 26, 2012 from: http://www.nursingschools.net/nursing/ 12) “Nursing Education in the United States” (2003), medical-colleges, Retrieved on February 25, 2012 from: http://www.medical-colleges.net/nursing3.htm 13) Raffel, M.W. & C.K. Barsukiewicz (2002). The U.S. health system: origins and functions, Connecticut: Cengage Learning 14) “University of South Carolina College of Nursing” (2009). sc, Retrieved on March 11, 2012 from: http://www.sc.edu/nursing/student/syllabi/N424S09.pdf Read More